24 Month Pictures and Birthday Pictures

HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY BRIAN JAMES LEANDER

Lion King!!!

I am so freaking excited about this movie! It came out yesterday and I have already decided that I am taking Brian on Wednesday to his very first movie! I only feel its right that my first movie in theaters was the Lion King so his should be too. We own the movie on VHS and he is super glued to the TV when watching it. I will let everyone know how it goes on Wednesday!!!

28 months

We didn't do anything really this month. I'm still trying to figure everything out and get back to some kind of normalcy. I can say though my mother in law has been a HUGE help and a blessing. I am so thankful that we got on good terms before all of this happened. I really don't know what I would do without her help with Brian. She has kept him when I needed sometime to myself or just needed a break. Those first few weeks were really tough, but I think I'm getting back into the swing of things now. Its been really hard to not be able to call my mom on my way to work every morning or call her when I have a proud mommy moment. Brian moved up classes at daycare. He is officially in the 2's class. I got a certificate and everything and I wanted so bad to be able to call my mom and share my joy with her. I honestly felt like I didn't have anyone to share the joy with. It's been tough, but I'll make it.

27 Months

This month has had it's ups and downs. Brian had his first trip to the lake on the 3rd with me and some friends. He had a blast. We had to leave a little early though because it was lighting and fixing to storm. The next day we went to watch fireworks at Lake Grapevine with my mom. We had seen fireworks a few nights before at Brian's Nana's house and he LOVED them! He would tell us that the fireworks said "whew" and that they were sleeping right now. Brian had a blast while waiting on them to start. He met a police officer and got to push the button for the sirens. He got a JR Police badge and was so proud of it! When the fireworks started Brian freaked out and didn't want anyone but my mom. We finally got him to sit in the car and watch them. He loved it! Brian had his 2 week vacation with his dad shortly after this so there wasn't a lot more to update on him. So back to the 3rd. We went to the lake with my best friend, her husband, their daughter, and her brother. I had never met her brother before. That day I didn't even feel like going anywhere. I wanted to hang out with my best friend, but didn't feel like being around a lot of people. My mom convinced me to go and to HAVE FUN. I was being typical standoffish Michele because I was around someone new. We went later that night to the movies to see Transformers 3 and I opened up a little more. I really had fun. So I went home that night and 2 days later started talking to my best friends brother. We really hit it off. We hung out a lot the next few weeks and on July 14th made it official! I am happy to say that I am in a relationship and not just with anyone. He is truly an amazing guy. I honestly don't know what I would do without him. Two weeks after this my world came crashing down. I had spent the night with Bryon and took him to work. I called my mom to talk like I did every morning. She told me that she was in the hospital and that she was just having a hard time breathing and that she had phmoniua. I was going to go up there and she said it wasn't that big of a deal and to go ahead and go have lunch with my sister and niece. While at my sister's my other sister called. They were transporting my mom to another hospital and it was more serious then we thought. I finished lunch and rushed from Dallas to Fort Worth to be with my mom. I spent the rest of the day at the hospital with her. I think I finally left that night at around 9Pm. Everything seemed fine so I made the decision to go ahead and go into work the next morning. I got a phone call around 3 or 4 that I needed to leave work and get to the hospital. Things weren't looking good. I drove 85 or 90 the whole way from Weatherford to Fort Worth, making it there in about 15 minutes. That drive is normally a 30 minute drive. All I really remember is parking my car and RUNNING to where my mom's room was. She wasn't there so they told me where to go. I remember hearing people crying and feeling sorry for them. Little did I know that was my family crying. I don't remember much after getting in there, just crying and calling Bryon because I needed him. I needed someone who would help me be strong because at that point I was lost and confused. He came from Dallas in rush hour traffic to be with me and comfort me. I'm telling you he is a blessing. That night I ended up going home with him and stayed until the funeral. I remember feeling like everything was just a complete dream and that I would wake up the next morning and it would be better. I woke up 3 times that night bawling. It wasn't a dream. This was real. Bryon held me and told me it was ok to cry and things would be ok. That he was there for me and I wasn't alone. At that point that was exactly what I needed to hear. I felt so alone. I just lost my best friend in the whole wide world. The person who knew more about me then I knew about myself. I lost my mom. I don't feel like going into any of the details as I'm at work and already crying just writing this. All I can say is I really don't know what I would do without Bryon. He didn't have to stand by me through all of this. He didn't have to hold my hand while making arrangements. He didn't have to take me home with him, but he did and I don't think I could ever express how thankful I am for everything he did.

26 Months

Oh boy! What a month! Brian had his very first hospital stay this month. He was with his dad and I got a phone call that I needed to meet him at the ER. Brian was having a hard time breathing and was throwing up and running fever. I rushed to meet them at the ER. They couldn't figure out what was wrong with him so they transported Brian via ambulance to Cook Children's Downtown. My mom rode in the ambulance with him and I followed in the car. Come to find out he had a micro plasma bacterial lung infection. He was on antibiotics, breathing treatments and oxygen. He finally started feeling a little better the next day and we were released to go home. He made a quick recovery and everything was fine. I got my car fixed this month as well. MY car. She got insured, inspected and registered and runs like a doll. I get so much better gas mileage in her then the other one. I also got added on full time at work which was an awesome thing because I really needed it.

25 Months

Brian had a 2 year check up and was 27 pounds. For some reason it seems he just can't gain weight. It's a little concerning to me, but no one else seems to be concerned with it. Brian has been staying with my mom on Saturdays so I can work. She loves having him around and he loves going to his Ne-Ne's. He still refuses to call her Granny. To each their own I guess. He has called her Ne-Ne since he was 7 months old and it's just stuck. I had an excellent mothers day! I took the weekend off and Brian, my mom and I went and rode the Tranchula Train. We had a blast! Brian's new fascination is trains so he was wide eyed and alert the whole time. He had a blast! He got to see his first cattle drive too! Over all we had a blast! On Mothers Day we went to Brian's Nana's and spent the day. Brian played and colored and even played a drum solo for us. That kid can seriously play. Brian started going to daycare this month too. He crys every morning when I drop him off, but hopefully it'll pass soon. He really seems to like it.